violin vs fiddle

[Paul]

Exactly what is the difference between these instruments?

Thanks, Paul

[Dave]

: Exactly what is the difference between these instruments?

: Thanks, Paul

It is merly the way they are set up and the way they are played.

A fiddle usually has flatter bridge and often uses brighter strings.

Sometimes people will want a fiddle to have a certain sound character

but it is not necessary. dave

[Scott]

: Exactly what is the difference between these instruments?

: Thanks, Paul

Paul,

The instruments do not differ, except possibly in their set-up. This would be according to the players preferences. The words are generally interchangeable; fiddle being a knickname. I do not know the origin however of the name "fiddle".

Scott

[Jake]

: Exactly what is the difference between these instruments?

: Thanks, Paul

This is one of the two or three questions dealers are asked most, and to me there are really two answers. The first answer being that the term "fiddle" is just a generic term used by players, makers, and dealers to indicate any violin regardless of its set-up or intended use. The second answer applies when the term refers to what I call the "folk violin", and in this case it gets a little more complicated because virtually any instrument can be adapted for this style of playing. However, not every instrument is suitable for classical playing even if set up in the classical manner. A folk violin is frequently made of non-traditional materials such as walnut, cherry, cypress, or whatever else was available or suited the maker's fancy. The dimensions and configuration as well as the set-up can also be considerably different from the standards which are rigorously adhered to for classical application. Jake

[jane]

The difference? The style of the person playing the instrument. A fiddler plays a fiddle. A violinist plays a violin. Even though you take the same instrument and hand it to one or the other! Actually, I've known many "violinists" who refer to their instruments as "fiddles", but I've never met a fiddler who calls his fiddle a violin?? Though the comments by jake and Scott are interesting. I never knew that.

[JohnT]

:

: : Exactly what is the difference between these instruments?

: : Thanks, Paul

: Paul,

: The instruments do not differ, except possibly in their set-up. This would be according to the players preferences. The words are generally interchangeable; fiddle being a knickname. I do not know the origin however of the name "fiddle".

: Scott

Scott,

According to Ryan Thomson in his "Fiddler's Almanac", the Anglo-Saxon name for a violin was "fythel" from which "fiddle" was derived. Ryan goes on to say that there are many different fiddle configurations: two and three strings and, more recently, five strings popular among some fiddlers in bluegrass, jazz and rock. These fiddles generally have a lower C string added to the G, D, A, E already present. Some fiddles also have fretted fingerboards.

Some European fiddles have sets of sympathetic strings which are not fingered but vibrate along with the strings that are fingered. I believe they are called "Hardanger" (sp) fiddles. The "Lark in the Morning" Catalog has all kinds of exotic folk fiddles listed.

JohnT

[Scott]

:

: :

: : : Exactly what is the difference between these instruments?

: : : Thanks, Paul

: : Paul,

: : The instruments do not differ, except possibly in their set-up. This would be according to the players preferences. The words are generally interchangeable; fiddle being a knickname. I do not know the origin however of the name "fiddle".

: : Scott

: Scott,

: According to Ryan Thomson in his "Fiddler's Almanac", the Anglo-Saxon name for a violin was "fythel" from which "fiddle" was derived. Ryan goes on to say that there are many different fiddle configurations: two and three strings and, more recently, five strings popular among some fiddlers in bluegrass, jazz and rock. These fiddles generally have a lower C string added to the G, D, A, E already present. Some fiddles also have fretted fingerboards.

: Some European fiddles have sets of sympathetic strings which are not fingered but vibrate along with the strings that are fingered. I believe they are called "Hardanger" (sp) fiddles. The "Lark in the Morning" Catalog has all kinds of exotic folk fiddles listed.

: JohnT

Thanks for the info, and the support concerning using aids in learning finger position.

Scott

[steveg]

: Exactly what is the difference between these instruments?

: Thanks, Paul

All of the answers are very interesting. But the greatest difference

between a violin and a "Fiddle" as it has been developed over time, with all things being

equal and the pattern of the instrument based upon the "Vuillaume or Le Messie" Stradivarious.

Is that a violin body resonates greatest on the D string, while a fiddle resonates best

around the A string. Materials vary from country to country and century to century, but the dimensions

and tonal responce are what determined the music and playing style.

[Guest]

: : Exactly what is the difference between these instruments?

: : Thanks, Paul

: All of the answers are very interesting. But the greatest difference

: between a violin and a "Fiddle" as it has been developed over time, with all things being

: equal and the pattern of the instrument based upon the "Vuillaume or Le Messie" Stradivarious.

: Is that a violin body resonates greatest on the D string, while a fiddle resonates best

: around the A string. Materials vary from country to country and century to century, but the dimensions

: and tonal responce are what determined the music and playing style.

I've always understood that a fiddle resonated best on the G string, a violin on the A string, and a "kit" fiddle on the D string. Then there are "wolf" fiddles that resonate on C#, and must be tamed with "wolf tone eliminaters." Then there are fiddlers that mistakenly play fiddle music on violins, and violinists that accidently buy fiddles to play their chamber music on. The worse thing is listening to accordion/viola/banjo trios where each player plays the other's instruments!

[Guest]

I always thought what you got out of the instrument determined whether or not it was a fiddle or violin. Some very fine fiddle players can play violin music . Violin players have a hard time playing "Breakdown" music or square dance music because it comes from within the heart.

[akasoda]

: I always thought what you got out of the instrument determined whether or not it was a fiddle or violin. Some very fine fiddle players can play violin music . Violin players have a hard time playing "Breakdown" music or square dance music because it comes from within the heart.

[Paperweight]

I like pizza

[Steve]

As a novice fiddle player of four years, who has gone through three fiddle teachers, I have learned the difference between fiddles and violins in the South. Violins have strings; fiddles have "straangs."